Frankie Dettori splits fans amid claim he’s charging ‘disgusting’ appearance fee on farewell tour
FRANKIE DETTORI has caused a massive split among fans amid claims he is charging a £15,000 appearance fee on his global farewell tour.
The world’s most famous jockey, 52, raced in Ireland last week after a successful weekend in Hungary prior to that.
Not many jockeys hang out with royalty – but Dettori is truly one of a kindGetty
Still to come this year are trips to the US, Australia, Hong Kong in addition to his customary rides in England.
Listowel in Ireland should have been on that list of venues but a row over the fee agreed for his appearance led to Dettori being a no-show.
Now a report on irishracing.com claims to know the figures behind the bust-up.
They claim Dettori originally agreed a €4000 fee last year to make his debut at this year’s Listowel Harvest Festival.
That was before Dettori – who recently said only a ‘stupid’ offer would keep him in racing – confirmed his intention to retire.
And the whole thing was knocked on the head anyway after the Italian picked up a ban while riding in Germany.
But when the racecourse contacted Dettori to confirm arrangements for this year, it is claimed the price had gone up to £15,000 for one day.
The report read: “Dettori was presumably offered something similar to the £15,000 to ride at Down Royal last Friday and thought he’d chance his arm for the same from Listowel.”
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Dettori has not commented on the claims and remains a massively popular draw wherever he goes.
And it is fair to say punters were split on his apparent decision to up his fee.
One called the move ‘disgusting’ but others said ‘we all want to make money’ and that Dettori was a ‘professional trying to earn a few quid’.
Another punter said: “Like him or loath him, he took racing from the inside pages to the back and front.
“For all their talent, Ryan Moore, Tom Marquand etc will add no one to the crowd or gate money.
“Racing will miss him when he is gone.”
Others saw it differently.
One said that if they agreed a set price then ‘it should be honoured’.
While another insisted he justified the price because he is ‘the face of world racing’.
Dettori recently made more than £75,000 flogging his old memorabilia, with a chunk of that going to charity.
And he will rent out his massive Newmarket mansion for around £15,000 a month when he and wife Catherine jet off into the sunset.
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